Factors influencing return to work after hip and knee arthroplasty

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Official Journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Table 4 Categorisation of theme responses

	Total number	% of total	Operation			Job status		Duties resumed		Hours resumed		Reflection on time taken to RTW
	Total number	% of total	THR	TKR	UKR	Self employed	Employee	Lighter	Usual	Fewer	Usual	Too early	About right	Too late
All respondents	116	100	58	31	27	31	85	35	71	45	61	12	86	8
Theme
Motivations
Active recovery	71	61	36	17	18	14	57	22	49	27	44	6	61	4
Psychological factors	24	21	14	5	5	6	18	7	17	8	16	4	16	4
Necessity	12	10	8	4	0	5	7	4	8	5	7	3	9	0
Job flexibility	12	10	5	3	4	6	6	4	8	7	5	2	10	1
Barriers
Physical effects of surgery	44	38	17	16	11	15	29	14	27	22	19	5	33	3
Employment factors	26	22	17	3	6	6	20	5	14	5	14	4	14	1
Medical restrictions	20	17	12	3	5	5	15	8	12	9	11	2	16	2

Active recovery: walking, cycling, hydrotherapy, formal physiotherapy sessions
Psychological factors: personal attributes, desire to work, escape boredom, discipline, motivation, determination, desire, willingness, return to normal routine
Necessity: financial need, self employed, starting new job, meeting deadlines, no leave left
Job flexibility: work remotely, reduced hours, self employed
Physical effects of surgery: pain, fatigue, weakness, joint swelling, mobility problems
Employment factors: inability to physically perform job, no light duties, workplace holiday closures, stairs but no elevators, no place to elevate operated limb
Medical advice: medical advice regarding returning to work/driving, inability to drive